Stuck in a Rut With People You Know Who Want to “Buy” Your Home?

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A lot of us have been through this scenario:  we think of selling our home, in fact we made the decision and before we have even listed it on the market our friends, family and coworkers are aware and someone or the other expresses interest in the home.  Sounds pretty harmless, right?  For the most part yes, except when you consider the fact that nine times out of ten when someone in our social or professional circle shows interest in our property, the sale does not pan out.

So how can you deal with this?  There is a solution, believe it or not: listing your home with a named exclusion. We explain how this works below, but first – it is a good idea to understand the types of issues you may encounter if you do not entertain this type of work-around to this potential problem.

“I Just Need Three More Weeks, I Promise!”

That is a common sentiment heard by sellers entertaining a sale to someone they know or even someone two or three degrees away from someone they know.  The buyers end up repeatedly asking for more time, without ever really putting a solid offer on the table.  They seem to think that because they know you, they can take weeks, even months, to make up their mind.  You, meanwhile, are anxious to sell the home before the value dips even further.

“But I Thought You Would Give Me a Deal Since We Know Each Other”

The natural inclination of anyone thinking of buying from someone they know is to expect some concessions – extra things that may not have been part of a sale to strangers.  The biggest concession buyers are hoping for by going through someone they know is on price.  But you are selling your home and chances are you want the best price you can get out of it – especially in today’s market with continuously declining home prices.

“Can’t You Put the House on Hold For Me?”

The idea that someone will hold off on a sale of something as large as a home is unbelievable but still, there are cases where buyers have actually expected that of sellers who they know.  As a seller, what are you supposed to do if another offer comes along that is serious, a good price and it seems like it will close with a very quick turn-around?  How can you skirt around the careful social stigma of not ruining the relationship with one person or party, without shooting yourself in the foot?

A Solution Where Everyone Is Happy

So how do you handle these situations?  What do you say to your dad’s best friend who really wants to buy your home but can’t decide between your home and the one they were already looking at?  Listing your home with a named exclusion allows you to proceed with a sale as initially hoped with the people you know – with some concessions such as a sale with little or no commission.  The key is that the people you have been engaging with aside from outside offers will benefit if they buy it since it would be outside the listing agreement.  This maneuver forces the buyer to take some action, since the listing is also open to everyone else in the market to buy a new house.
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Using this savvy selling technique, you can get in on offers potentially made by people you know, provide a concession of sorts in case it does sell to them and keep the listing open for others at the same time – all without shortchanging yourself during the process.  And there is no negative social stigma attached.

How To Prepare Your Home For Sale – Spruce It Up and Sell It Fast!

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If you have made the decision to sell your home and will be listing it soon, especially as we continue to experience this challenged market lately, you want your home to sell as quickly as possible and at a price closest to your asking price.  By following these tips, you are sure to be successful in your home-selling endeavor, and most likely with an edge over other sellers who may not have taken the time to prepare their property for sale.

Get Your Home Ready So It Shows Its Very Best

Curb appeal is a very important aspect of attracting serious buyers.  Beginning with what they see as they drive up, to what their experience is walking up to the front door – as a seller, your greatest opportunity to grab their interest lies in those very first moments.  Make sure there are no dirty corners, cobwebs, mildew, stains or other unattractive visible signs of neglect that will catch prospective buyers’ eyes.

Tip: Pressure-wash the area, clean up weeds, add shine to pavement blocks with some sealant, make sure the storm door is in good shape and that the door bell operates.

Clean, Mark-Free Walls and Windows Are Essential

Regardless of whether you are still living in the space or the house is vacant, it’s important to have the house cleaned and devoid of all marks and blemishes.  Windows and glass should be clean and smudge-free.  Walls should be without any scuffmarks, moving dents or other signs of wear and tear.

Tip:  Hire a cleaner to clean the house, the bathrooms, fixtures, kitchen, appliances, floors, walls and windows -- patch up dents in the wall and apply a fresh coat of paint throughout the home.

Address Aged Aspects of the Home

If you have some areas with older appliances, tiles with loose grout or any other things that need some updating, try to do so before putting up the house for sale.  Without taking on too large an expense, do make an effort to make the home presentable.

Tip:  Clean grout on older tiles, have loose tiles re-grouted, and freshen up shower stalls and bathtubs with new caulking.

Don’t Ignore Hard-To-Reach Areas

Pool cages are often ignored within a home because homeowners cannot easily access the insides where mold and mildew can accumulate.  Cleaning the pool cage will make all the difference when a buyer walks through the home and imagines their family using the space.

Tip:  Pressure-wash the inside of pool cages for a quick, bright spruce up.

The Home Should Be Warm and Inviting

Depending on where you are located, keep the temperate of the home at a comfortable level.  If it is too hot or cold, buyers will leave too quickly without getting ample time to walk through, see all the features and visualize themselves in the home.  If the home is still occupied, cook a pot of apples and cinnamon on the stove a few hours before the showing, so there is an inviting aroma throughout the house.

Tip:  In the summers, keep the air conditioning on at a comfortable 68 to 70 degrees.  In winters, leave the heating on at about 73 or 74 degrees.

Exterior Aesthetics Are Also Important

Pay attention to overgrown shrubs, trees, flowerbeds and hedges.  When the outside of a home looks unkempt it can give off a false impression of the rest of the home too.  You want your prospective buyers to see the home and fall in love at first sight – and that begins from the exterior.